FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995 (202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888
FORMER DELEGATE FAUNTROY IS CHARGED, AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice announced today that Walter
E. Fauntroy, former Delegate to the House of Representatives from the District
of Columbia, has been charged with one federal felony in an information filed
today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and that Fauntroy
has agreed to plead guilty to the charges.
The information charged Fauntroy, 64, who served in Congress from 1971 to
1991, with violating the false statements statute, Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1001, based on a false statement regarding a charitable contribution and
the omission of a material liability on his U.S. House of Representatives
Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 1988, in violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Sections 1001 and 2.
The information alleges that Fauntroy filed a false financial disclosure
statement required by the Ethics in Government Act with the Clerk of the U.S.
House of Representatives in May of 1989. Under the provisions of that Act and
under the Rules of the House of Representatives, each member of the House is
required to file a financial disclosure statement annually. Fauntroy is charged
with having falsely claimed on the financial disclosure statement for 1988 that
he had made an end of the year charitable donation in the amount of $23,887.46
to the New Bethel Baptist Church where he serves as pastor to make it appear that
he had complied with the Rule of the House of Representatives imposing a cap on
outside earned income. Under the rules of the House of Representatives for 1988,
no member was permitted to earn more than 30 per cent of the member's salary. Fauntroy also is charged in the information with failure to disclose on the
financial disclosure statement a loan he had obtained in June of 1988 in the
amount of $24,200. The provisions of the Ethics in Government Act required that
Fauntroy disclose the loan.
Fauntroy faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000
fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement filed with the court, Fauntroy has
agreed to plead guilty to the charge and the government has agreed to recommend
that he be sentenced to probation.
The information and plea agreement stem from the Department of Justice's
ongoing investigation of the House Bank. This case is being handled by attorneys
assigned to the House
Bank Task Force, Criminal Division, composed of an Assistant
United States Attorney from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a Senior Litigation
Counsel from the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division, a Senior Counsel in the
Criminal Division, and Special Agents of the FBI, Washington, D.C. The Task
Force was formed in December 1992 to continue the work of the preliminary inquiry
into the House Bank that Malcolm R. Wilkey, retired judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, conducted as a special
counsel to the Attorney General in 1992.
This is the 10th criminal charge filed to date by the Task Force. The
former Sergeant At Arms, Jack Russ, pled guilty to three felonies and is serving
a 24-month prison term. Former Member of Congress Carroll Hubbard Jr. pled
guilty to three felonies and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Former
Congressman Carl C. Perkins pled guilty to three felonies and was sentenced
recently to 21 months in prison. Carol Brown Hubbard, the wife of former
Congressman Hubbard, pled guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to five years
probation. Martha Amburgey, the secretary to former Congressman Perkins has pled
guilty to two felonies and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 1995.
Ignatius DeMio, the nephew of former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar has pled
guilty to one misdemeanor and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 1995.
Former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar was recently indicted for seven felonies,
including conspiracy and filing false statements, and is awaiting trial. Former
Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was recently indicted on five felony counts
alleging acceptance of bribes and is awaiting trial. John P. Fitzpatrick was
recently indicted on eight felony counts alleging bribery, conspiracy to defraud
the United States, and giving false testimony before the grand jury. The
investigation of the House Bank Task Force is continuing.
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95-153